Temple Theater

The Miami Scottish Rite of Freemasons built the Scottish Rite Temple with an Egyptian motif for their Scottish Rite Masonic Center near Lummus Park and the Miami River, formally dedicating it as their organization’s home on March 12, 1924.

A photo of the exterior dated January 29, 1926 in the State Library and Archives of Florida shows the same building was also being used as the Temple Theater which had opened on January 24, 1926 with Florence Vidor in “Girl of Gold”, There were movie poster boxes out front and the words “Motion Pictures De Luxe” on the left of the theater’s sign. It was equipped with a ‘mighty’ organ which was opened by organist Frank Stanton.

The cinema did not last long closing in 1929. It reopened briefly in 1940, but the edifice continues to be used by the Miami Scottish Rite organization.

In 2016 the building is also being marketed as Park Place Miami, a space for holding special events. The “History of Park Place” page on their website states “The auditorium, [was] originally used as a silent movie theater (complete with a Skinner Pipe Organ)…”, and can now be rented out for theatrical productions.

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

David_Schneider on February 20, 2016 at 10:10 am

View the photo from January 29, 1926 of the Temple Theater here: https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/41787

“History of Park Place” page, including a photo of what the auditorium looks like now.

Wider version of same photo on Google of the auditorium now.

Scroll down on the Miami Scottish Rite “About Us” page for a “History of the Temple” building (though I don’t see a mention of the cinema).

Youtube video of an aerial flyover of the Scottish Rite building.

David_Schneider on May 8, 2016 at 11:40 am

Across the street from the Temple is the Lummus Park Historic District where the last two of Miami’s original pioneer-era buildings have been relocated: Fort Dallas and the William Wagner House.

Also see: http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/fl/fortdallas.html

During Miami River Day, held each April, the interiors of the buildings are open to visitors and historical reenactors are on hand, providing atmosphere and answers to your questions.

Inside Fort Dallas historical photos show other early buildings that no longer exist.

Some residences that look to date back to the 1920’s are along the street behind the park (NW 3rd Street) and may also be of interest, especially in an unrenovated state.

Al Alvarez on May 8, 2016 at 2:47 pm

The Temple showed movies from 1926 to 1929 and again in 1940. At some point it was also known as the Federal.

rivest266 on January 25, 2020 at 10:37 am

The Temple theatre opened on January 24th, 1926 with “Girl of Gold”. Grand opening ad posted.